RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Intervention in Overweight Children Improves Body Mass Index (BMI) and Physical Activity
JF The Journal of the American Board of Family
                Medicine
JO J Am Board Fam Med
FD American Board of Family Medicine
SP 126
OP 137
DO 10.3122/jabfm.2013.02.120118
VO 26
IS 2
A1 Siwik, Violet
A1 Kutob, Randa
A1 Ritenbaugh, Cheryl
A1 Cruz, Luis
A1 Senf, Janet
A1 Aickin, Mikel
A1 Going, Scott
A1 Shatte, Andrew
YR 2013
UL http://www.jabfm.org/content/26/2/126.abstract
AB Background: Childhood obesity is a growing epidemic in family medicine with few clinical treatment options. We implemented and evaluated a group office-visit intervention by family physicians for overweight children and their parents, emphasizing nutrition and physical activity within a resiliency psychosocial model. Methods: The intervention lasted for 3 months, with half of the children crossing over to intervention after 6 months in the study. Participants included 35 children who met eligibility criteria of being in third through fifth grades and having a body mass index (BMI) above the 85th percentile. The 3-month, 12-session intervention, “Choices,” included topics on nutrition, physical activity, and resiliency. The sessions were developed for delivery by a family physician and a nutritionist who received training in positive psychology and resilience skills. Main outcome measures were BMI z scores for age and sex and z scores for weight by age and sex, as well as qualitative interviews to understand individual and family processes. Results: The intervention resulted in a significant effect on one primary outcome, BMI z score (−0.138 per 9 months [P = .017]) and a trend toward significance on the weight for age z score (−0.87 per 9 months [P = .09]). The net shift of activity from the low metabolic equivalents (METs) to the high METs had an intervention effect of 2.84 METs (P = .037). Families reported lasting changes in behaviors and attitudes. Discussion: The innovative approach used in this study demonstrated modest efficacy in reducing BMI z score, changing physical activity levels, and possibly shifting family dynamics.